Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-09

OF q bclatcd train. IL WIS better to wait
even if that cntailcd the risk of a fight
For this possibility Andrews made ready;
he said to Knight:
go back and tell tho boys, without
attracting attention, that we have to wait
for train that is behind time, and for
them 20 bc ready to jump ut the signal, If
needed, and fight"
Knight sauntered carclcsSly along down
the train, just rs if he was tired to death
with waiting and did not know what to
do with himself; and leaning against our
car, without turning his head OF eyes
toward us, said in q low tone which we
heard perfectly:
Boys, we have TO wait for train that
is little behind time, and the folks
around are getting mighty uneasy and
suspicious. BE ready TO jump out, If you
are called, and let them have it hot and
fast"
We did not know how many of the
"uneasy folks there might be about
and 80 unbearable had become the sus-
pense of being shut up in that dark car,
and hearing the sound of voices outside,
without being able TO distinguish the
words or know what was going ON. that n
command to spring out and begin deadly
strife would have been welcomed rs a
relief, without much regard to numbers.
We said we were ready: we had been
ready nj any time the last hour Still we
carefully examined the printing of every
revolver, and saw that reserve ammun;-
ton was in pockets within easy reach.
We did not intend, If IT came to II firht.
TO shoot at long range, but to close right
in, where every shot would be deadly.
That we could, with the surprise of an
unexpected assault, and firing each time
to kill, have cleared the station Of four
times our number, have never doubted
Could any situation be imagined by poet
or novelist more trying than that Of this
carload Of Union soldiers shut up in the
midst Of Confederate trainsl
But we were not called upon to quiet
the ''uncasincss' outside, which was fully
as great as Knight had described, in any
such summary manner. Andrews PLAYED
his part with surprising skill The people
around, and especially the old switch ten
der, began To grumblc something about
being sure that I'LL was not right. \ good
many questions were asked a. to why
Fuller, with the regular train, was not
along by this time, and why the ,upcrin-
tcHdcnt OF the road az Atlanta had not
sent notice ot thc powder train. Andrews
answered each suggested question very
briefly aud pHuSibly, but without appear
ing Al all auNiote about their opinions
Trumh!cd a little about the bad manage
meat Of rCJd that would allow its track
10 be blocked at n time like this and gave
iccOunt~dt himself in the camp Bcaure-
gitlul with an air - confident and truthful
that no ON" Nrntured TO question him. /
think there was only one thing. aside
from the dangerous delay, which h. really
dreaded, He kept very near the iVlr-
graph otl!Cr, and, without seeming to do
80, closely watched the operator The at
tempt 10 telegraph any Kind of n message
mp the line would have probably brought
on an immediate collision
Brown relates Il curious little episode rs
occurring here. He noticed - man who
watched Andrews for u short time. and
then, when no ON. else was near, Stepped
close TO him and handed him large and
seemingly we'll filled envelope. Andrews
smiled and placed ii in his vest pocket
Brown intended to ask about it, hut more
pressing business put it ont of his mind
Probably this was an incident of Andrews
cnIrtrabanu trade, and the package CON-
tanned an order for gUoCl~. with the money
to pay for them.
RULER ana his party were now moi many
il''itS away ana were lHaNih@ more RAPID
'..nI ."""-u US 'ilaii na'' ever 'tcA maze
va wa. 1o.'u uloI'' bt1 we hhc" not
~ Vi '"'' NuPlNNch 'hd' we were sun
.n h""' 'I'r''u OF any pursuit 'haJ could
" 'H''--'''4, t ilNu ''tn AT TINS pace
.Isc ''out anu NV ihii'u'P'' IL S'chleu 10
me- HhuV "P IN we DON clT nearer nan
u'y I"u Nncii tlt Nhl,'ie Oh " 'ra!h was
.c'iu, "h!cn loT' ul'''r!y Tor Us was hrHl
.''in tH' horth-h't me pursuing lfam
I''n, ''l' 9pu'h ~ was ABOUT rs welcome
rs 'nS "o''i'' OF Mi'chti cannon. win
" HE-!l VIZ cNl"c'r' 10 In SrretcI III me
~ 'linS "7'oo our WORK was done rms
Iia' cA,'' 'H'ht ny 10 the PLATFORM rs the
ptne'S is' "'!N'' ana was al once ordered
~ AHu't"o - ara" on doWn the road
IhaI wv Hl't"f nave room - ~ out Inc
'oH'''i'''I ''pr! "' N''n""' h"''''''oh' an"
"IT oN5 'u'l''n "'s l'hHNFu
~ 'e"! NHfa!ncu 10 uulu,t ihc o"itcn SO
nav We hnSh' aGain grt on the main
''8rN hlr Andrews "Rcrteu the Old
'Nltca !Thoer 10 49, Dun Ne hau been
Ie't'h- IN worse ana worse humor 1o'
=